March 27: Coronavirus (COVID-19) update from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

We are working within a well-established set of structures governing how agencies work together to respond to keep people safe and well-informed during a major incident.

And we are continuing to scale back a number of non-essential services to ensure we can focus our resources on those services that protect the most vulnerable.

Changes to the registration of deaths

From Monday (March 30), we will be registering all deaths and stillbirths by telephone appointment only. This is in line with national guidance. Appointments can be made by calling Registration Services on 01642 527 720.

Outdoor markets

We have cancelled the outdoor markets in Stockton, Thornaby and Billingham until further notice.

Free school meals vouchers

We are awaiting details of the national approach to providing support through supermarket and shop vouchers. Our four Family Hubs - Billingham, Redhill, Stockton and Thornaby - are continuing to distribute packed lunches to families with children who would normally receive a free school meal. This offer from our Family Hubs will continue through the Easter holidays, when we normally run a 'holiday hunger' scheme, and will run alongside the national voucher scheme if it has come into place by then.

Details of the free school meals offer from Family Hubs can be found at Our People and anyone who cannot collect a meal from a Family Hub can call HelpPoint for assistance on 01642 527225.

Help for people struggling to pay Council Tax

We appreciate that people may be struggling to pay their Council Tax and are working on ways in which we can help them. We expect to have further details early next week.

Help for businesses

We have started to make grant payments to the 2,621 businesses in the Borough that together, are eligible for £31.2million of business grant support. We are continuing to gather information from those eligible businesses via telephone calls and have also made an online form available on our website that businesses can complete and return to us by email to ensure that grant payments reach them as soon as possible. The form can be found on our dedicated business support webpage Help for businesses.

Help for parents/carers of children still attending school

The vast majority of schools in the Borough remain open for children of key workers and vulnerable children, though the numbers of pupils attending is very low. We are working with them on plans to move towards a 'cluster' model in case that becomes necessary. We have also set up phone lines that you can call if your school has to close at any point and you need help arranging alternative provision.

Help for the vulnerable and elderly

Catalyst's 'COVID Community Support Team' is operating seven days a week and is all about making sure help reaches those in our communities who need it most. Help ranges from food shopping and picking up prescriptions to making sure people who are self-isolating and may be worried or lonely get the right support they need. You can call 01642 524 500 for assistance and find out all about it on the Catalyst website.

Stay calm

It is important that people remain calm, follow the latest national advice on the steps needed to reduce the spread of infection, and use only official sources of information when getting this advice.

Keep informed

For updates on all Coronavirus (COVID-19) related developments in Stockton-on-Tees - including health advice and disruptions to services - visit the Council's dedicated webpage Our People.